Waghorn out for 6 weeks

[MacK1950 2,399]

Can someone tell me is it the surface they play on that is the complaint or the foundation it is laid on personally I think it is the latter.

[ian1964 10,761]

'Players wearing boots with blades on plastic pitches is a recipe for disaster': Physio's warning in wake of Martyn Waghorn injury

 

AIRDRIEONIANS medical man Michael McLaughlan has spent years highlighting the dangers of players wearing the footwear on artificial surfaces.

 

A LEADING football club physio has urged players to bin boots with blades on plastic pitches.

 

Airdrieonians medical man Michael McLaughlan insists wearing them on artificial surfaces is a recipe for disaster.

 

The 45-year-old spoke out after seeing pictures last week of injured Rangers star Martyn Waghorn wearing bladed boots at Kilmarnock's Rugby Park.

 

And he insists: “I’m absolutely gobsmacked that players are still taking this kind of risk.”

 

McLaughlan, who carried out an extensive study into the dangers of boots with blades a decade ago, has seen first-hand the damage which can be done.

 

He was unable to comment specifically on the nature of Waghorn's injury which Ibrox chief Mark Warburton said was at least, in part, down to the pitch.

 

But the Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic says footballers are playing Russian roulette with their health – and reckons some of them are more interested in looking good than staying safe.

 

McLaughlan, who has campaigned on the issue for years , said: “A player’s whole week is about fitness, sports nutrition, sports science and making them the best athlete they can be.

 

“But yet there doesn’t seem to be the same attention paid to the most important thing – footwear. You play football with your feet.

 

“I’m concerned that players are wearing blades on that [artificial] kind of surface.

 

“Players need to know, from grassroots level right up to the professionals, about the dangers.

 

“The biggest danger is blades getting caught in the turf, which is like a carpet. When you try and rotate to change direction, your foot stays planted.

 

“Your medial ligaments will go first and then the serious bit, the cruciate, will go.

 

“I carried out a study and had thousands of pieces of evidence. Manchester United and Arsenal confirmed to me that they had a total ban on blades.

 

“I’ve been trying my level-best to make kids aware of the dangers.

 

“The adults should know but is it a case of fashion coming before safety?”

 

When he was physio at Gretna, McLaughlan treated defender Chris Innes after he was on the receiving end of a challenge from East Fife’s Brian Fairbairn.

 

“I could see a tiny bit of blood but when I cut his sock down his calf opened up like a book,” McLaughlan recalled.

 

“There was a massive wound and he was rushed to hospital.

 

“The surgeon’s exact words were that his scalpel couldn’t have done a better job. It was a perfect incision.

 

“I asked to see Brian’s boots and he had aluminium blades which were wearing down and becoming sharper and sharper.

 

“Chris ended up with 40 stitches inside his calf and the same again on the outside.”

 

McLaughlan also treated 13-year-old Airdrie player Kai Creelman when he tore his ACL when trying to change direction in a game while wearing blades on astroturf.

 

He took his study to the SFA and appeared on the BBC’s Watchdog programme to raise awareness.

 

“Over the years I’ve been in sports shops and seen parents buying boots for their kids,” he said. “I’ve stopped them, explained who I am and advised them. It has worked.

 

“The message is clear – wearing blades on astroturf doesn’t go.

 

“Every time you wear blades on astroturf, you increase the risk of injury to yourself or others.

 

“Look at the evidence out there. Look at the career-changing injuries which have been suffered. It’s not worth the risk.”

 

Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/players-wearing-boots-blades-plastic-7431115#qdDtibfzWxAvVq6d.99

[MacK1950 2,399]

It is something I commented on years ago so it does not surprise me as there is no give in them for twisting turns and I agree withe sense shown by two of the biggest British clubs in banning them.

Take heed MW.

[JTP 0]

I'll be taking this into consideration the next time I buy the wee fella a pair of boots, he's only 5 just now but does go to a wee class on 4G at present.

[craig 5,199]

I'll be taking this into consideration the next time I buy the wee fella a pair of boots, he's only 5 just now but does go to a wee class on 4G at present.

 

Same. I just sent that article to my Club President here in Bermuda - he is on the FA Executive... he agrees, but says the FA just ignore his concerns.

 

So I told him as a Club we should consider educating our OWN parents and kids.

 

I can tell you for sure that the next pair of boots my kid gets will NOT have blades as they play the majority of games on synthetic surfaces here.

[pete 2,499]

What are blades? Is that just aluminium studs? Excuse the ignorance.

[craig 5,199]

What are blades? Is that just aluminium studs? Excuse the ignorance.

 

No, blades are not studs pete.

 

Think ice skating blades, but obviously far smaller. And they replace studs. Blades effectively spread your weight across the whole sole of the boot whereas studs don't.

[calscot 0]

I tried blades on 4G and didn't like it, so immediately switched to lots of "nodules" - or mini rubber studs. Hard to describe.

[craig 5,199]

I tried blades on 4G and didn't like it, so immediately switched to lots of "nodules" - or mini rubber studs. Hard to describe.

 

I know exactly what you are talking about. Almost like indoor boots but with the nodules, which is not dissimilar to lots of miniature studs.

[pete 2,499]

No, blades are not studs pete.

 

Think ice skating blades, but obviously far smaller. And they replace studs. Blades effectively spread your weight across the whole sole of the boot whereas studs don't.

Thanks I have never heard of that but it is about 15 years ago I bought football boots.